Flashlight switch



APll 20, R. GARBs 2,676,217

FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Filed May 20, 1952 INVENTOR 6% Wm/ @f4/953,

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1954 A 2,676,217 Y FLASHLIGn'r SWITCH l RaymondGarbs, v{Kanljialice,lll.:y Applicatiqn May 2o, 19'52',Yseria1no. 288,833

The present-invention relates to a ashlight Y switch and it consists-in the combinations, con- V 1 --structionsand arrangements of v --scribed and claimed.

parts hereinv de- Generally there is provided a novel switch for a conventional flashlight which consists of an elonlgated switch arm preferably formed of plastic malterial-and provided with novel means-wherebythe l same may be pressure operated or whereby the same may be locked in either on or 01Tr positions. The device is such that it may be operated nby anyone who can grasp a flashlight in his hand, ``that is to say by a person who may be lacking one orseveral of his ngers and hence Vis particularly useful in cold weather when the fingers are "often'fnumb and it is hard to operate the conventional flashlight switch. The device contains several novel features which will be brought out lhereinafter in the annexed specification.

y"It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel ashlight switch which is attractive in Aappearance and possesses novel means for locking the same in on and off positions.V

Another'ob'ject `of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth which is sims. claims. teilt-2.00960) e there is shown therein .lindrical body' a flashlight .having acy- I this case formed. of dielectric material and having threadably mounted at its .forward end a lamp II and a lamp housing I2 in one side of the casing I which is a conventional reflector I3 and lens I4. The rearward end of the housing I@ is provided with a threaded cap I5 and, extending through therevis vprovided a pair ofrivets I1 and I8. Fastened by the rivetll is a rearwardly extending conductor strip- I 9 whose .rearward end is adapted to contact the rear- .most of a pair vof .batteries 2| andv 22 which are in conventional seriesl contact.v The rivet I8 has fastened thereto the rearward end of ay conductor `strip 23 whose forward end is affixed to a socket 24 for. the base-,25AM the lamp II. The base 25 is provided with a central contact 26 of conventional character which is Vin contact with the forward 'ple in construction,- inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and emcient in use.

Another object of the invention is to, provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel means whereby a ashlight may be operated by squeezing 'orrelaxing the'hand of the operator thereon.

. A further object' of the invention is toprovide, in a' device of the'chara'cter set forth, a novel operating handle forming a part of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of Figure 1 taken in the direction of the arrow A,

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 but fragmentary in nature and illustrating the switch in position for on and off action,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, illustrating the switch of the present invention in locked on position,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-6 of Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a switch handle forming a part of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing,

end ofthe battery 22. 20.-.

Amxed to the rivet I? upon the outer side of the casing vIll is a spring contact arm 27 whose free end isadapted to contact the rivet I3, the arm 21 being-biased to a position away from the rivet I 8.

`Ailixed tothe outer side of the casing i3 in longitudinal4 alignment is a rearward retainer -member2-9 and a forward retainer member 30, the

rearward member 23 being open at its forward iend,as indicate-:l at 3lv and the forward member 30jbeing open atv its rearward end, as indicated at 32.

An elongated handle 33, preferably formed of j acoloredplastic material is provided with a trans- Averselyv extending-V notch 34 in the 'forward 'end thereof and, rearwardly of said notch 34 with a transversely extending ridge 35 upon the upper side thereof and a transversely extending groove 36 immediately rearwardly of the ridge 35 and such groove 36 being likewise in the top side of the handle member 33. The rearward end of the handle 33 lies within the retainer member 29 and is slidable through the forward end 3| thereof while the forward end of the handle 33 is provided, beneath the notch 34, with a forwardly extending projection 31 which normally lies beneath the rearward edge 32 of the member 33.

In operation, it will be apparent that the flashlight casing I0 together with the handle 33 may be grasped by the hand of the operator and, when it is desired to merely flash the lamp II for short periods of time, it is only necessary to squeeze the hand of the user while the handle 33 is in position shown, for example, in Figure 3, of the drawing. In this position, it will be apparent that the handle 33 may press against the contact member 21 to thereby brine the same into actual contact with the rivet i8 to thus complete a circuit including both rivets, the members I9 and 23, the socket 24, lamp base 25, the batteries 2| and 22 and the lamp Il. When, however, it is desired to maintain the lamp Il in a permanently on position, it is only necessary to manipulate the handle in such manner that the upper forward edge thereof, indicated at 39, may lie beneath the rearward lip 32 of the member 30. This will cause the conta-ct member 21 to permanently remain in contact with the rivet I8 thus completing a circuit at all times to the lamp l I.

When it is desired to lock the device in permanently off position, as, for example, when the same is being carried in the pocket of the user, it is only necessary to manipulate the handle 33 so that the lip 32 of the member 30 is received within the notch 34. Thus in this position it is impossible to press the handletcward the casing l and hence the contact member 21 is prevented from coming into accidental contact with the rivet IB to complete a circuit to the lamp ll.

It will also be understood that the notch 36 and the ridge 35 are useful in moving the handle 33 forwardly and rearwardly as desired to effectuate the various positions above described.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor1 modications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ashlight including a casing, the provision of a switch for said flashlight, said switch comprising a pair of retainer members mounted on the outer side of the casing in longitudinally spaced relation, a xed contact member mounted in said casing between said retainer members, a spring arm contact member aflixed to said casing between said retainer members and movable into contact with said iixed contact member, a switch arm longitudinally slidable in said retainer members and bearing against the outer side of said contact arm, means for locking said switch arm against inward movement, means for locking said switch arm against said contact arm whereby to hold the latter in closed position, and means allowing free movement of said switch arm against said contact arm.

2. In a flashlight including a casing, the provision of a switch for said flashlight, said switch comprising a pair of retainer members mounted on the outer side of the casing in longitudinally spaced relation, a xed contact member mounted in said casing between said retainer members, a spring arm contact member affixed to said casing between said retainer members and movable in contact with said fixed contact member, a switch arm longitudinally slidable in said retainer members and bearing against the outer side of said contact arm, means for locking said switch arm against inward movement, means for locking said switch arm against said contact arm whereby to hold the latter in closed position, and means allowing free movement of said switch arm against said contact arm, said means for locking said switch arm against inward movement comprising a transversely extending notch in the forward end thereof for the reception therein of the lip of the adjacent retainer member.

3. In a flashlight including a casing, the provision of a switch for said flashlight, said switch comprising a pair of retainer members mounted on the outer side of the casing in longitudinally spaced relation, a xed contact member mounted in said casing between said retainer members, a. spring arm contact member aflixed to said casing between said retainer members and movable into contact with said xed contact member, a

`switch arm longitudinally slidable in Said retainer members and bearing against the outer side of said Contact arm, means for locking said switch arm against inward movement, means for locking said switch arm against said contact arm whereby to hold the latter in closed position, and means allowing free movement of said switch arm against said contact arm, said means for locking said switch arm against inward movement comprising a transversely extending notch in the forward end thereof for the reception therein or the lip of the adjacent retainer member, and the forward end of said switch arm being 0f sufficient thickness to force the closing of said switch when said forward end is engaged beneath its adjacent retainer member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 780,525 Patterson Jan. 24, 1905 1,134,977 Hpwell Apr. 6, 1915 1,296,404 Koretzky Mar. 4, 1919 2,530,505 Brill Nov. 21, 1950 

